“Are you waiting for someone?”
“No,” he said quickly.
“Well, perhaps you can accompany me for some tea. It looks to be turning into a warm day and refreshment would not hurt.”
“No, thank you.”
“I could keep you company,” she suggested.
“No.” He clenched his jaw. His manners were leaving him rapidly. Judith needed to understand his lack of interest—fast.
“It seems terribly boring just standing here. Whatever are you waiting for? It must be someone, surely?” She tilted her head. “Are you trying to keep a secret from me?”
He fixed her with a stare. “Judith, whether I am meeting someone or not is really none of your business.”
“Oh, Brook, you really should consider making it my business.” She lifted her chin. “I will not be dissuaded, you know. I understand that giving up one’s bachelor lifestyle can be daunting but we would work so perfectly together and I could keep you very, very happy.” She shifted closer and trailed a finger down his chest. “You would hardly remember your days as a single gentleman once you have me in your bed.”
He grabbed her finger and thrust it back toward her. “That is not going to happen, Judith.”
Her expression darkened. “If you cannot see what a fine match we would make, then I will have to do something about that.”
Before Brook had registered her dramatic change in demeanor or what was about to occur, she flung herself upon him, using every bit of strength she must have to plaster her lips to his. Brook put his hands to her arms and shoved her back.
“If you think you can force me into marriage by making a scene—” He stilled, along with his heart that came to a shuddering standstill. “Damn it. Chloe.”
Chloe stood by the fountain, frozen.
“Chloe.” He followed after her as she turned on her heel, heading back toward the country lane. She moved swiftly, her skirts swishing about her ankles and her bonnet bobbing on her head. “Chloe!” He caught up with her with Judith on his heels.
Coming in front of her, he forced her to a stop. Confusion and fury marred her expression. “I should have known,” she said.
“Chloe—”
“You really do live up to your reputation.” She glanced at her hands. “How foolish I was.”
“Chloe, damn it, that was nothing.”
“I would not say nothing,” Judith said smugly, swinging her gaze between them. “Is this really who you were waiting for, Brook? This plain, little wallflower?”
Pain flittered in Chloe’s pale gaze. He wanted nothing more than to draw her into his arms and tell her how beautiful he thought she was but he doubted she’d be receptive to that.
“I think I should go,” Chloe said, the words barely a whisper.
“You damn well should not,” he said. “Not until we have talked about this.”
Chloe looked to Judith. “I am not sure there is anything to talk about.”
“No, there isn’t,” Judith agreed. “Now, run along, little wallflower.”
Brook curled a fist at this side. “There is plenty to talk about,” he said through gritted teeth. “You know how I feel about you, Chloe. There is no need to be angry.”
“No need to be angry?” she spluttered. “We were to…and you were…” She gestured to Judith. “I think I have plenty to be angry about.”
Judith smiled smugly. “Do not be upset, dear. He is only a man after all.”
“Judith!” Brook snapped. “Go away. I have no desire to speak to you or talk to you or even be vaguely in your presence again.”
Judith’s expression soured. “All because of this wallflower? This is ridiculous, Brook, you know how wonderfully we go together.” Her lips curved. “How magical we are in bed.”
Chloe sucked in a breath.
“Judith. Leave. At once,” he ordered.
Judith huffed and barged bodily passed Chloe, knocking into her with her shoulder. Chloe staggered back a few steps and rubbed her shoulder. Brook went to hold her but she backed away a few steps.
“Judith is a vindictive, spoiled brat used to getting her own way,” he explained. “I had no idea she would be here nor did I wish to kiss her.”
Chloe eyed him for a few moments, still massaging her shoulder. “You were lovers?”
“Once. It was a mistake.”
She pressed her lips together and rubbed the end of her slightly freckled nose. “She is very attractive.”
“I want you, Chlo. No one else.”
Her gaze searched his. “But how can I know? How can I ever know?” She pressed a hand to her forehead. “You know, for a moment, I thought you were doing it out of revenge…that this whole plot had been to humiliate me—a Larkin.”
“You really think I would do something like that?”
“I do not know,” she said softly.
“Damn it, Chloe, I might be a few things but I am no heartless bastard.” He could hardly believe she thought so poorly of him.
“This was a mistake.” She turned away and he took her shoulder.
She shirked away from his touch. “I’m going home,” she declared, lifting her chin.
“No, you are not. We’re going to Scotland.”
“You may go to Scotland if you wish. I am certainly not going anywhere.”
“Do you really believe I intended for Judith to come here and kiss me all as some sort of a plan?”
“No…yes…no I do not know.” She opened her palms. “Do you not see? That is the problem. I do not know. How can I?” She gestured between them. “She is right about us. I am a little, plain wallflower and you are a…a handsome rogue. How can we ever have a future together?”
Coldness seeped through him, settling deep into his heart. She really did see him as nothing more than a culmination of gossip and his reputation. Apparently, his actions could not speak louder than the words of others.
“For a smart woman, Chloe, you can be incredibly foolish.”
She opened her mouth then closed it for a moment. “Well, for a supposed charming gentleman, you can be incredibly rude.”
“You really are a typical Larkin. So stubborn and pig-headed.”
“And you are a typical Waverley, thinking he can have whatever and whoever he wants.” She folded her arms. “Well, you are not having me.”
“Perhaps I damn well do not want you anymore!” The words escaped him before he could stop them. As soon as they were out and he saw the hurt crease her brow, he wished he could summon them back. Of course he wanted her. More than ever. He just could not believe she truly doubted him and his high hopes for the day were being dashed swiftly like a ship on the rocks. Hope was splintering and his happiness was drowning.
“I think I shall return home now,” she said quietly.
“Chloe…”
“Good day, Mr. Waverley.”
“Chloe, please.”
“Do not follow me.” She straightened her shoulders and turned away.
He watched her walk down the lane until she vanished. Though he considered chasing her, he wasn’t sure what he could possibly say. He’d just told the woman he loved he did not want her. What the devil was wrong with him? And apparently she still did not trust him. Lord, that dug deep like a knife to the chest. Maybe she was right. This had been a big mistake. Perhaps if they had been able to court openly they would have realised it sooner. A Waverley and a Larkin could never be together.
Chapter Nineteen
A knock at her bedroom door roused Chloe from her distracted state. She had a book in hand but had neglected to read a word of it, instead staring at the ceiling, wondering where on earth it went all wrong. She shut the book and sat up, shoving her hair from her face.
Someone knocked again. She cleared her throat. “Come in.” The words sounded too feeble for her liking.
The door eased open and her father eased his head around the gap, not fully stepping into the room. “May I, uh, come in?”
She har
dly wanted to look at him at present but she had no energy left in her to fight with her father. For all she cared, he could ditch her on boring old Mr. Lawrence. She couldn’t feel anything about it. She just felt…numb.
He stepped in and closed the door gently behind him. His hands clasped behind his back, he glanced around the room and made an odd noise in his throat. Chloe eyed him expectantly.
“Your mother wanted me to tell you that your friends are here.”
Her friends? Lord, she had completely forgotten their plans to meet and walk into town. She considered her likely bedraggled appearance and how little energy she had. How could she face such a thing?
“I will be down in a moment,” she promised quietly. She owed her friends an explanation at least for cancelling on them.
He turned then stopped, coming back to face her. “Also, um, Chloe…about that thing…”
“Thing?”
“The, um, marriage thing.”
“Yes?”
He peered at his feet. “I was mistaken.”
“Oh.”
A bushy brow rose. “I thought you would be happy.”
“No, I am, Papa. Thank you.”
He nodded. “Good. Excellent.” He moved to the door. “Well then. Enjoy your time with your friends.”
She forced a smile and waited until her father left the room before she let it drop. Well, that was good news she supposed. She would not have to marry Mr. Lawrence after all. And that meant it did not matter that she had not eloped with Brook.
That was a good thing, was it not?
So why did she feel so awful?
With leaden feet, she made her way downstairs to find Joanna and Augusta in the entranceway.
Joanna’s brows rose when she saw her. “Chloe?”
“Joanna?”
Augusta came to her side, drawing her through into the parlor room with a gentle hand to her arm. “Whatever is the matter?”
Chloe allowed herself to be maneuvered into a chair and glanced from woman to woman. She felt awful for forgetting their plans. In truth, she had forgotten everything except Brook.
Lord, how that name sent a dart to her heart. She sniffed and pressed a hand to her chest in a bid to relieve some of the ache there. How silly of her. It would take a lot more than that to ease the pain there. She had finally taken a risk and it had failed most spectacularly. If only she had trusted her initial instincts about Brook, she could have saved herself this pain. They could never have made a successful match. Why oh why did she think a wallflower and a rogue could work together. She sniffed again and tried to swallow the aching knot in her throat but it would not shift.
“Chloe?” Joanna tried again, sinking down next to her. Ever beautiful, even in her crepe mourning dress, Chloe felt like a tangled mess in her most comfortable muslin gown and her hair messy from trying to rub away the burgeoning headache that had been plaguing her all morning
“I forgot we were meeting today.” She gave a weak smile.
“What has happened?” Augusta pressed.
“Oh nothing really. I was just intending to elope with Mr. Waverley.” She took Augusta’s offered handkerchief and dabbed at her sore eyes. “Nothing of importance.”
“Elope?” Joanna spluttered. “Why would you do such a thing?”
“My father wishes me to marry someone else. Or at least he did.” Chloe scrunched the handkerchief in both hands. “I was feeling a little desperate you see.”
Augusta shook her head. “Oh, Chloe, why did you not tell us?”
Chloe stared at the balled-up piece of fabric, the A for Augusta peeking out between her fingertips. “I am not certain. And it happened very quickly.
“We are your friends,” Joanna reminded her. “We could have helped or at least offered advice.”
Nodding numbly, Chloe glanced between her two friends. She’d only had them as companions for a little while and, truth be told, they were the first true female friends she had ever had. It was hard to know what to do with them at times.
“You are right,” Chloe said on a sigh. “If I had taken but a moment to confide in you, I would have saved myself this pain and humiliation.”
“What happened?” Augusta asked softly.
“We were to elope to Scotland today.” The words sounded silly and hollow when she said them aloud. “Or at least that is what I thought. But it seems Brook was living up to his reputation.”
“How so?” Joanna pressed.
“When I arrived to meet him, he was with another woman.” When she pictured him with the beautiful, raven-haired woman, the pain in her chest started anew. “They were kissing,” she added.
Augusta gasped.
“Oh dear,” Joanna said.
Tears began to bite behind her eyes again and Chloe dropped her face into her hands, her cheeks burning. She felt small and silly and ridiculous all at the same time. The one time she did something frivolous and she wound up with a broken heart. How very typical.
A few moments of silence passed and Chloe lifted her head to see both women exchanging looks.
“What happened after that? What did he say?” Augusta asked softly.
“The woman—Judith I think it was—said they had been lovers for some time.” Chloe grimaced. “She was so beautiful.”
“Did you speak to Brook?” Joanna asked.
“Of course.” Chloe’s chest hurt anew. “We argued. He denied it all and could not believe I doubted him. But you should have seen them together. They looked so”—she gestured with open palms, bringing them together— “perfect with one another.”
Joanna pressed her lips together. “Did you believe him? That they were not lovers?”
“I-I’m not certain. Either way, it does not matter. How could I have ever thought we could be together? Even if he is not guilty of such a thing, it is clear I am not able to get past my doubts. What sort of relationship could we have?”
Joanna leaned over and squeezed her bunched hands. “What can we do for you?”
Biting down on her bottom lip, Chloe lifted both shoulders. It was not terribly conducive at the moment but mostly she wanted to curl up in a ball and cry until there were no more tears left. She could not decide if it was over Brook, because she was so embarrassed, or because she hated herself for letting her fears get the better of her.
“I think…I had better take some time for myself. I am not good company at present.”
Joanna nodded her understanding but Augusta peered at her closely. “Are you certain? We can stay for as long as you need.”
“She needs to be alone for a while,” Joanna said, standing.
Chloe smiled gratefully Joanna. If anyone could understand the pain of losing someone, it was her. Not that Chloe would compare her agony to Joanna’s.
Augusta and Joanna promised to visit tomorrow though Chloe could not see things looking any brighter then. Even with her father less inclined to marry her off.
“Chloe,” called her mother.
Standing, she straightened her dress and swiped at her eyes. The last thing she needed was her mother asking questions. She could never admit how deeply she had fallen for Brook now that it was all over.
Her mother popped her head around the drawing room door. “Is that your bag in the hallway?”
Chloe grimaced. She must have dropped it there in her haste to get inside. It contained all the things she needed for a trip to Scotland.
“Oh, yes, that is mine. Forgive me. Joanna and Augusta arrived early and I forgot all about it.”
“Whatever did you need such large bag for?”
Chloe scooted past her mother and snatched up the bag in question, holding it close to her chest. “Um...books of course.”
Her mother rolled her eyes. “Of course.”
“I…I had better go and put them away.”
“Chloe—” her mother started but Chloe dashed upstairs before anything else could be said.
In her bedroom, she unbuckled the bag and dumped her
belongings onto the bed. Eyeing the crumpled mess, her nose tingled. She sniffed away the beginning of another deluge of tears and snatched an armful of clothes.
Wrenching open the armoire, she jolted. “What on earth are you doing in there?”
Freddie peered up at her, his freckled face creased as he blinked in the light. He had a book in one hand and a candle in the other. Leaning forward, he glanced around. “Are you alone?” His gaze narrowed. “Have you been crying?”
“Of course not. And yes I am alone. Why? Are you in trouble?”
“No. I do not think so.” He waved the book at her. “At least, not yet.”
“Not yet?”
He eased himself out of the piece of furniture and slid to the floor then blew out the candle and put it on the side table. “I do not think Mama would like it if I read this.” He sniggered. “It is a bit naughty.”
“Naughty?” She snatched the book off him, ignoring his protests. “Where on earth did you find a naughty book?”
“Up in the attic.” He tried to take it off her but she held it aloft. He jumped twice then folded his arms when he failed to grab the book, his lips forming a pout. “Give it back, I found it, it’s mine.”
Chloe glanced at the cover. Dusty and faded in places, it was thinner than a normal book and had faint gold writing on the front that was mostly rubbed off. She squinted at it. The indent read ‘diary.’ “This is most definitely not yours. Is this Mama’s?”
Her little brother made a face. “Lord no. I would certainly not be reading it if it was. That would be disgusting.”
Flicking it open, her gaze landed immediately on some rather explicit details, written in delicate handwriting that surely had to be a woman’s. It was certainly not the sort of content her brother should be reading about but she could see why he was so captivated. She turned to the first page and sucked in a breath. “Julia,” she murmured.
Freddie nodded. “I do not know who she is. I want to know how her diary ended up here.”
Chloe knew. She guessed that Freddie had not considered the man talked about in the diary might be his father. That was probably for the best.
Married to the Rake (The Wallflower Brides Book 1) Page 13
